Shoe conveyer



June 20, 1950 e. B. CARSIQN SHOE CONVEYER F iled Nov. 15, 1945 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

I A ,qrfwe/yfxs June 20, 1950 e. B. CARSON 2,512,574

SHOE CONVEYER Filed Nov. 15, 1945 s Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORY June 20, 1950 G. B. CARSON 2,512,574

SHOE CONVEYER Filed Nov. 13, 1945 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 IN V EN TOR.

Patented June 20, 1950 'sHoE CONVEYER Gordon B. Carson, Portsmouth, Ohio, assignor to Selby Shoe Company, Portsmouth, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application November 13, 1945, Serial No. 628,217

7 Claims.

This invention'relates to the art of shoe makingand is particularly directed to an apparatus and p'rocess-forsupporting and conveying the shoe parts'during the operation of constructing the shoes.

"It hasbeen the object of the present inventor to'provide conveyor means enabling straight line production through an apparatus which permits movement of groups of shoe parts along a conveyor which resembles,- in some respects, an elongated work bench, and in this same arrangement, to provide for thereturn of the boxes, which support the groups of shoe parts, to the starting point; In this connection, a number of boxes are provided which are moved along the conveyor channel, or track, the work progressing from lasting to packing at the end of which the empty boxes are conveniently and quickly conveyed by gravity or power to the starting end of the conveyor.

It has been a, further object of the inventor to provide novel conveyor boxes in which a plurality of pairs of lasted shoes and the various parts such as the platforms, soles, and the heels may be contained, these boxes constituting work racks providing for mounting of the lasted shoes on jack pins or withinracks, depending upon the operation being performed.- I

Since these boxes include spaced horizontal rods or dowel pins, as well as the jack pins, the 1 operator need not return the lasted shoes to the jackpins which requires more care, but may drop them in the support afforded by the horizontal rods with a considerable saving in time. Further this arrangement of groups of shoes in conveyor 1.

boxes makes it possible to send the boxes through drying ovens without removing the shoes therefrom, regardless of whether they are on the pin: or in the racks.

Additionally, it has been an object of this inventor to incorporate a, clamping means or vise in the conveyor structure, which means is conveniently operable for successively clamping and holding the boxes as operations are performed on the shoes requiring a steady support for the lasted shoes.

Most shoe making processes are made up of a sequence of hand and machine operations. These operations sometimes require the removal of the-shoe and the last to a machine and then the replacement of the shoe and last in whatever rack it is-carried. Hand operations frequently have to be done with the lasts on jack pins which allow the lasts to rotate, but, at the same time, hold them solidly. Under the present arrangement, the component parts of the shoe of proper size are matched to the lasts carried inthe conveyor box. In the case of hand lasting, each conveyor box is moved to the lasting station where a, clamping jaw holds it rigidly in the conveyor track while the shoes are lasted by the-slip or force lasting process. The shoe could belasted in the conventional manner by hand on the jack pins. The box may then be unclamped and moved to the next operation. If this happens to be a machine operation, each shoe and last can be removed from the jack pin, put through the machine process and when returned to the conveyor box, may be quickly dropped in the cradle, or racks, afforded by the dowel pins. In other words, the operator has the option of putting the lasted shoes on the dowel pins, or simply dropping" them in the racks, depending upon the en'- suing operations.

Thus, it will be apparent that the above stated objects have resulted in. a structure and method which greatly facilitates the handling of the shoes and the process operations;

Other objects and advantages will be more fully apparent from a description of the drawing in which: x

Figure 1 is a top plan view of one of the boxes or receptacles incorporating means for accommodating three pairs of lasted uppers and component shoe parts.

Figure 2 is a side View of the box with certain portions thereof broken away for illustrating the interior structure.

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on line 3-3 further detailing the structure of the box and showing, indot and dash lines, shoes in position therein.

Figure 4 is a side view of one of the jack pin or spindles removed from the box.

Figure 5 is a top plan view of the conveyor track structure.

Figure 6 is a side view of the conveyor structure with a portion thereof broken away as in Figure 5 for making the view more compact.

Figure '7 is anend view of the conveyor.

Figure 8 is a sectionalview taken on line 8-8 (Figure 6) showing generally the box clamping mechanism.

Figure 9 is a fragmentary view'enlarged from Figure 8 showing the clamping mechanism adjacent the conveyor rail structure.

Figure 10 is a top plan view of Figure 9.

Referring generally to the drawings, the present structure consists of a conveyor channel l5 along which the boxes are moved to the'right (Figures 5 and 6) and a return conveyor it along which the boxes containing the partially completed shoes, the lasts, or the empty boxes, whichever may be the case, are moved back to the end of the conveyor 16 into which they were fed originally. The units or boxes within which the shoes are conveyed are indicated generally at IT. At a work stage in the conveyor, a clamping mechanism Ill-is incorporated for holding each successive box as work is performed on the shoes within it.

Referring specifically to Figures 5 and 6, the conveyor consists of a framework made up of channel iron legs I 9 and diagonal braces 20 supporting the horizontal guide: rails 21 on upper cross pieces 22. Gusset plates 23 join the cross members and the legs bracing them so that the entire conveyor framework is exceedingly rigid. The return conveyor IB consists of suitable side rails 2424 and a series of rollers 25 having their ends journalledin the side rails. These siderails are disposed horizontally a short distance from the right of the conveyor structure just below the upper conveyor. They are securedto the legs and diagonal braces. From this horizontal position, they extend downwardly dropping about inch per foot toward the left hand end of the conveyor where the drop decreases to about $4; inch per foot. Thus, the boxes, as they roll down the incline, come to a gradual stop and are removed at the floor level at the left hand end of the conveyor. In cases where the length of the conveyor excludes gravity as the conveying means, a power booster maybe employed.

The conveyor ib'oxeswhich hold the component parts of the shoe are generally indicated at ll. These boxes are of rectangular outline and are fabricated of wood or any other adaptable material. They are designed in the specific instance shown so as to receive three sets of shoe parts.

Six jack pins or spindles 21 are fixed vertically in the conveyor box structure so as to be disposed in a row along one side of the box structure. Each spindle (Figure 4) comprises a head end 28 and an attaching shank 29, there being a shoulder 30 between these portions. The end of the shank is screw-threaded as at 3|. A supporting structure is built up along the side of the box consisting of four wooden pieces 32, sides, top and bottom, respectively. This arrangement of elements makes up a rectangular beam structure which is tubular; Nuts 33 screwed on the portions 3| secure the jack pins in position with the shoulder engaging the top of the beam structure through Washers 34. Originally, these studs or jack pins are fixed to the upper element 32 before the elements are secured together. The jack pins are adapted to receive the conventional lasts (see Figure 3).

Along the side edge of the box, a container space or receptacle 35 is provided in which the heels for the three pairs of shoes are contained. This elongated container space is provided by an arrangement of side wall members 36 and a bottom member 31. The top of the inner rail or wall 36 is rounded and is covered with a strip 38 of some soft material, the purpose of which will be described later. Between the walls 32 and 36 there are six sets of spaced rods 39, there being a set adjacent each spindle or jack pin, in this instance. These rods have their ends anchored in the respective walls and are spaced sufficientlyfor receiving the'last'ed'shoes (Figure tinued at these notches.

3). When the shoes are supported between these support bars, the instep portions rest on the padded upper edge of the rail 36.

A bottom rail 40 extends between the end walls 4| of the box beneath the rods transverse thereto. This rail includes sets of pins or pegs 42, three in each instance. These sets of pegs are in spaced relationship and are disposed between the sets of supporting bars 39. Adjacent the spaces between the pins of each set are slots 43 in the rail or wall 36. The padding 38 is discon- The pins and notches afford holders whereby the platforms and soles ,which will later be attached to the shoes are placed on edge in spaced relationship and thus held so that the wet cement thereon will not touchthe shoes regardless of whether the shoes are on the pins or in the cradles afi'orded by the support bars.

Thus, a receptacle has been provided which will accommodate threelpairs ofshoes or component parts. Initially the three pairs of shoes mounted on the lasts are disposed on the spindles or pegs. As the Work progresses down the conveyor from station to station, all of the work which can be doneon the shoes withoutrem'oving them from the conveyor or the boxes, is done with the shoes on thepins. As soon asthe box reaches one of the hand work stations, it may be held in position by means of a clamping'mechanism hereinafter described; Further onin the operation, machine work stations are encountered where itis'necessarytoremove the: shoes from the boxes. They are then taken ofi the pins, put through the machine process-andreturned to the boxes, this'time being'placedin the dowel lpin supports.

The advantage of this optional typeof'supp'ort is that it is much faster to return the shoes to the cradles than it is to place them back on the pins, the operation simply being one of dropping them in position. 7

The ends of the boxes are provided with armate grooves in the nature of hand-grip depressions whereby the 'box'may' be readily'picked up.

Referringto Figures 8 to 10inclusive, the construction of the clamping means will beapp'arent. The clamping block 45'is'guided for lateral movement on the top side rail 46 of the frame 15'. An inverted U-shaped guide plate 4'! provides a guide-way for theclamping block. This element includes horizontal flanges 48 attached to the rail 46 by means of bolts.

The vertical rail of the conveyor track 2] is notched out as at 49 for clearing movement of the block into contact with the ends of the adjacent box. The opposite rail 2lis supportedbv means of an elongated block 50 of wood secured on theo'utside of andagainst its vertical flange so as to support the flange against the pressure imparted through this box to the rail when clamped.

The clamping block'45 is actuated by means of a foot treadle 5| at the side-oi the machine opposite to that on which the block is mounted. This treadle is p votally mounted on a bracket 52 secured to the floor. An arm 53 extends down from the treadle and is pivotally connected'to one extension of a motion conveying lever 54 by means of a link 55. The lever 54 is pivotally mounted on a bracket 55a fixed to the floor. Its other arm is pivotally connected to the outer end of a horizontally disposed actuator member 56 bymeansoi a link orr'od 51. The member SB'is-of elongated U-shape (Figure having a loop at its outer end and having its inner ends straddling and pivotally attached to the extended arms of a pair of angle irons 58.

These angle irons have their base flanges fixed to an angle iron support 59 extending between adjacent legs of the table structure. A vertically disposed arm 60 has its lower end pivotally mounted between the flanges of the angle iron elements 59. Its upper end carries an adjustable blockengaging screw El, screw-threaded through the arm and having a locking nut 62 engaging with the arm. The outer face of the block carries a metal pad 63;

The clamp is shown in clamped position. The clamp is of a commercial type and includes a toggle arrangement which when aligned as illustrated in Figure 8, becomes locked, the pin 64 serving to limit the movement of the clamping elements past a dead center position. When the arm 56 is pulled downwardly in the unclamping operation, the toggle element 65, which has its outer end pivotally attached to the arm, will pull the clamping arm so away from the block through the connection of the toggle element to this arm. It is not believed necessary to go into the exact structure of this clamp in its entirety for, as stated, it is of a commercial type, themain requisite being that it lock in a clamping position against release by pressure from the clamped object.

Thus, by the simple application of foot pressure to the treadle, imparting a rocking motion, any conveyor box may be gripped at the point of the clamp for holding the box firmly in position while work is being done on the lasted shoes on the spindles. As stated, the clamp is of the self-locking type, that is, once it is moved to clamping position, foot pressure may be removed from the treadle.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. A conveyor mechanism for conveying boxes of shoes or shoe parts and the like, comprising a table structure, rigidly fixed guide means disposel along the top of the table structure, a return conveyor track disposed beneath the firstnamed guide means, said latter track inclined toward the intake end of the conveyor for returning the boxes of shoes or the like to that end of the conveyor, a clamping element operating laterally relative to the first-named guide means and an actuating means for urging said clamping element into locked clamped position for holding successive boxes in said guide means.

2. A conveyor mechanism for conveying boxes of shoes or shoe parts andthe like, comprising a table structure, rigidly fixed horizontal guides providing vertical side rails disposed along the top of the table structure, a return conveyor track disposed beneath the first-named guides, said latter tracks inclined toward the intake end of the conveyor for returning the boxes of shoes or the like to that end of the conveyor, and a clamping device for holding successive boxes firmly between the rails.

3. A conveyor mechanism comprising a table structure having rigidly fixed horizontally disposed longitudinal guide rails, an inclined return guide way beneath said guide rails, a clampclamping block movable laterally through said opening into the space between the rails for clamping successive boxes or the like against the other rail, and a mechanism for operating the clamp.

5. A conveyor mechanism comprising a table structure, horizontal longitudinal guides disposed on the table for guiding boxes of shoes or the like along the top of the table, a clamping block laterally slidable on the table into the area between the rails for clamping an adjacent box against the opposite rail, a self-locking clamping mechanism engageable with said block and a foot-operated treadle and linkage for actuating,

said clamping mechanism.

6. A conveyor mechanism comprising a table structure, horizontal longitudinal guides disposed on the table for guiding boxes of shoes or the like along the top of the table, one of said guides notched at one point, a clamping block laterally slidable on the table through the notch into the area between the rails for clamping an adjacent box against the opposite rail, a self-locking actu-. ating mechanism engageable with said block and a foot-operated treadle and linkage for actuating said clamping mechanism.

7. A conveyor mechanism for shoe processing boxes comprising; a table structure, a pair of guide rails rigidly fixed to said table in spaced parallel relationship to each other, the spacing between said rails being slightly wider than the width of said boxes to permit free, guided passage of said boxes therebetween and a clamping mechanism movable into the space between said rails to clamp successive boxes against one of said rails.

GORDON B. CARSON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

